THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (2025)

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When "Hocus Pocus" first hit theaters in 1993, it was neither a commercial nor critical success. Bette Midler starred as the Sanderson sisters' ringleader, Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson. Midler is still riding high as an award-winning actress, singer, author, and comedian. Sarah Jessica Parker played Sarah Sanderson, who hypnotizes children with her enchanting voice. Parker went on to star in "Sex and the City" and its subsequent film adaptations, and founded her own production company in 2005. Kathy Najimy played Mary Sanderson, the Sanderson sister with a talent for sniffing out children. Najimy has since appeared in a wide array of movies and TV shows, including "Rat Race," "The Guilt Trip," "BoJack Horseman," and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." Omri Katz played the protagonist of "Hocus Pocus," Max Dennison. Katz retired from acting and works as a hairstylist in Los Angeles. Thora Birch played Max's fearless younger sister, Dani. Birch has continued to act, most recently appearing in "The Walking Dead." The character of Allison was played by Vinessa Shaw. Shaw has continued acting, appearing in movies including "Eyes Wide Shut," "40 Days and 40 Nights," and "The Hills Have Eyes." Stephanie Faracy played Max and Dani's mother, Jenny. Faracy also continues to act and recently appeared in the TV shows "Uncoupled," "How to Get Away with Murder," and "The Goldbergs." Doug Jones played the undead William "Billy" Butcherson, Winifred Sanderson's ex-boyfriend whom she resurrects to help retrieve her spell book. Jones still works in acting, often playing aliens or other non-human species with the help of makeup and special effects. FAQs

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Talia Lakritz

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THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (1)

  • "Hocus Pocus" came out in 1993 and became a Halloween cult classic.
  • Its star Omri Katz quit acting, and Sarah Jessica Parker went on to star in "Sex and the City."
  • The long-awaited sequel, "Hocus Pocus 2," comes out September 30 on Disney Plus.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (2)

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THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (4)

When "Hocus Pocus" first hit theaters in 1993, it was neither a commercial nor critical success.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (5)

The film follows the Sanderson sisters, a trio of evil witches who are accidentally resurrected on Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts, and the rag-tag group who tries to finish them off once and for all.

In the years since, "Hocus Pocus" has become a Halloween cult classic, so much so that Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker are returning for "Hocus Pocus 2" coming out September 30 on Disney Plus.

Here's what the original cast of "Hocus Pocus" is up to now.

Bette Midler starred as the Sanderson sisters' ringleader, Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (6)

Midler put her singing skills to use when her character performed a version of "I Put A Spell On You" with spooky lyrics such as "It's been 300 years, right down to the day / Now the witch is back and there's hell to pay."

Midler is still riding high as an award-winning actress, singer, author, and comedian.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (7)

She has starred in "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway (for which she won her second Tony), "The Politician" on Netflix, and the Gloria Steinem biopic "The Glorias."

Middler said she and her costars were all immediately onboard when they saw the plot of "Hocus Pocus 2."

"They presented us with an outline, and after we picked ourselves up off the floor, because it's been 27 years, we looked at it and I think all of us agreed that it was pretty great,"she told Peoplein October 2020.

Sarah Jessica Parker played Sarah Sanderson, who hypnotizes children with her enchanting voice.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (8)

Sarah Sanderson isn't the brightest of the bunch, but she manages to lure all of the children in Salem to their house by singing a hypnotizing song called "Come Little Children."

Parker went on to star in "Sex and the City" and its subsequent film adaptations, and founded her own production company in 2005.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (9)

Parker's role in the HBO show "Divorce" earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

She also starred in "And Just Like That...," a revival of "Sex and the City," before starting filming on "Hocus Pocus 2."

She shared a teaser photo for the sequel on Instagram in May, writing: "Yep. I'm ready. To run. Amok, amok, amok, amok. [candle emoji] #HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @disneyplus Sisters??? X, SJ."

Kathy Najimy played Mary Sanderson, the Sanderson sister with a talent for sniffing out children.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (10)

Before "Hocus Pocus," Najimy played Sister Mary Patrick in "Sister Act"alongside Whoopi Goldberg.

Najimy has since appeared in a wide array of movies and TV shows, including "Rat Race," "The Guilt Trip," "BoJack Horseman," and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (11)

She has starred in "Veep" and "The Rocketeer" and appeared in "Robot Chicken," "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Duncanville," "Younger," and "American Dad!"

She also shared a teaser photo for "Hocus Pocus 2" in May, writing: "The people have spoken: I smell children...again."

Omri Katz played the protagonist of "Hocus Pocus," Max Dennison.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (12)

In the film, Dennison lights the cursed Black Flame Candle on Halloween night that brings the Sanderson sisters back from the dead.

Before the movie, he'd also appeared in shows including "Eerie, Indiana" and "Dallas."

Katz retired from acting and works as a hairstylist in Los Angeles.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (13)

Before an appearance on "Childhood Thoughts" in 2018, Katz's most recent acting role was in a 2002 short film called "Journey Into Night."

Even though he left Hollywood behind, he still made an appearance for a Freeform special in honor of the 25th anniversary of "Hocus Pocus" in 2018.

He's also kept in touch with some of his costars, celebrating Halloween with two of them in 2015.

Thora Birch played Max's fearless younger sister, Dani.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (14)

Birch, a '90s child star, was 11 years old when "Hocus Pocus" came out.

Birch has continued to act, most recently appearing in "The Walking Dead."

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (15)

Throughout the '90s, Birch starred in multiple movies, including "Now and Then," "Monkey Trouble," and, when she was 17, "American Beauty."

More recently, Birch has appeared in movies such as "Above Suspicion," "Kindred Spirits," "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," and "Affairs of State."

The character of Allison was played by Vinessa Shaw.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (16)

Allison's mother used to run the museum built in the Sanderson sisters' old cottage in Salem. She brings Max and Dani there, where Max lights the Black Flame Candle and resurrects the fearsome witches.

Shaw has continued acting, appearing in movies including "Eyes Wide Shut," "40 Days and 40 Nights," and "The Hills Have Eyes."

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (17)

She most recently starred in "Swagger," "12 Mighty Orphans." and "We Need to Do Something," which she also co-executive produced.

She told Entertainment Tonight in October 2021 that she hasn't been asked to be involved in the "Hocus Pocus" sequel.

"I haven't heard anything," she said. "I know, it's so disappointing. I would love to do the sequel. It would be so much fun. I think there's just a different storyline with younger people, but why can't we all come back in some way?"

Stephanie Faracy played Max and Dani's mother, Jenny.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (18)

Jenny dresses up as Madonna for a Halloween party.

Faracy also continues to act and recently appeared in the TV shows "Uncoupled," "How to Get Away with Murder," and "The Goldbergs."

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (19)

Faracy also starred in "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" alongside Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick, and Aubrey Plaza.

Doug Jones played the undead William "Billy" Butcherson, Winifred Sanderson's ex-boyfriend whom she resurrects to help retrieve her spell book.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (20)

Spoiler alert!

In the end, Butcherson helps Max, Dani, and Allison defeat the Sanderson sisters and returns to his grave to sleep in peace. Jones used his training as a mime and contortionist to make the zombie-like character more humorous than horrifying.

Jones still works in acting, often playing aliens or other non-human species with the help of makeup and special effects.

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (21)

Jones has appeared in films like "Hellboy," "Crimson Peak," and "The Shape of Water," and TV shows like "What We Do in the Shadows" and "Star Trek: Discovery," but he wrote on Twitter that "Playing Billy in HOCUS POCUS was a highlight in my life and career."

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THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 29 years later (2025)

FAQs

What happened to the actor who played Max in Hocus Pocus? ›

In 2015, it was reported that Katz maintains acquaintance with his former fellow actors from Hocus Pocus. As of February 2022, Katz operated a cannabis company.

Where is Max Dennison now? ›

Omri Katz (Max Dennison)

Of all the “Hocus Pocus” stars, Omri Katz is the only one who largely left Hollywood after starring in the film. Today, he runs a cannabis brand, but has noted that he'd be open to returning for future “Hocus Pocus” projects.

How old was Allison in Hocus Pocus in real life? ›

When Hocus Pocus was released in 1993, Vinessa was 17 years old when she appeared as Allison in the popular Disney flick.

What happened to the little girl from Hocus Pocus? ›

Thora Birch (Dani)

The former child star rose to fame following Hocus Pocus, landing roles in Monkey Trouble, Now and Then and Alaska as a child. In 1999, her part in American Beauty landed her a BAFTA nomination.

Why is Max and Dani not in Hocus Pocus 2? ›

'Hocus Pocus' stars open up about why they aren't in sequel: 'It just didn't work' The Sanderson sisters were brought back to life in “Hocus Pocus 2,” but the children's franchise couldn't strike the right alchemy for some of its original cast members.

Who turned down the role of Max Dennison in Hocus Pocus? ›

Leonardo DiCaprio had the chance to play the lead role of Max Dennison in 1993 cult classic fantasy comedy movie Hocus Pocus, but ultimately turned it down.

Who is Max dennisons girlfriend? ›

Allison Watts is one of the tritagonists of the 1993 Halloween comedy-fantasy film, Hocus Pocus. She is the crush and later girlfriend of Max Dennison.

Will there be a Hocus Pocus 3? ›

Upon its release in September 2022, Hocus Pocus 2 earned positive critical reviews and broke records on Disney+, leading Disney to announce in 2023 that a third film was in the works. "Kathy had a good idea that the third one should be animated," Parker told EW in a 2022 interview for the second film.

Where is Danny from Hocus Pocus now? ›

Thora Birch as Dani

Birch continues to work regularly, with two movies recently wrapped up and a bevy of other on her résumé. Her most notable role after Hocus Pocus came in 1999's American Beauty.

What happened to Max and Allison after Hocus Pocus? ›

In the sequel, she is and Max have married and a daughter, named Poppy.

Where was Hocus Pocus filmed? ›

The film is set in Salem, Massachusetts, but most of it was shot on sound stages in Burbank, California. However, its daytime scenes were filmed in Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts, during two weeks of filming with the principal cast.

How old is Dani in Hocus Pocus? ›

Dani is a headstrong eight-year-old girl who has no qualms about screaming like a banshee when Max refuses to take her trick-or-treating or making fun of him in public, but she has a good heart and does not hesitate to defend him from neighborhood bullies or the Sanderson sisters.

Why did Leonardo DiCaprio turned down Hocus Pocus? ›

In a 2014 interview with Variety, Leonardo DiCaprio said he was offered "more money than I ever dreamed of" to play "Hocus Pocus" leading man Max Dennison. But DiCaprio turned down the part to hold out for a role in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993) — a film he hadn't auditioned for yet.

What happened to Emily Binx in Hocus Pocus? ›

In seconds, they are once again youthful and Emily is reduced to a withered husk. She stirs feebly for a few moments but soon dies of age. Three hundred years later, Emily's spirit finally welcomes Thackery to the afterlife, complaining that she's waited for him a long time.

What happened to the real Sanderson sisters? ›

CNN reported that the Sanderson sisters are fictional characters. There were not three sisters named Winifred, Sarah and Mary who were executed for practicing witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.

Who was originally supposed to play Max in Hocus Pocus? ›

Hocus Pocus director Kenny Ortega tells EW that his casting agents sent the future Titanic and Killers of the Flower Moon superstar actor in to read for the role of Max — which eventually went to Omri Katz — in the 1993 Disney classic, but that his team told him DiCaprio wouldn't be able to take the part.

Who will play Max in Hocus Pocus 2? ›

Additionally, three stand-in extras portrayed Max Dennison, Dani Dennison and Allison Watts, the three protagonists of the first film, originally portrayed by Omri Katz, Thora Birch and Vinessa Shaw, in a flashback sequence narrated by Gilbert to The Sanderson Sisters.

What happened to the original Hocus Pocus cast? ›

"Hocus Pocus" came out in 1993 and became a Halloween cult classic. Its star Omri Katz quit acting, and Sarah Jessica Parker went on to star in "Sex and the City." The long-awaited sequel, "Hocus Pocus 2," comes out September 30 on Disney Plus.

How old was Max when filming Hocus Pocus? ›

As part of a roundtable interview with the original Hocus Pocus cast published Wednesday, Katz, 46, told Entertainment Weekly he was high from cannabis use while filming scenes for the family film. "That was at an age where I started experimenting with cannabis," Katz, who was 16 at the time of filming, told EW.

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